Bloomex Supplies Tulips to Veterans at VE Day Celebration

Photo from cbc.ca

Each May brings the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, which first took place on May 8, 1945 to mark the date the Allies formally accepted the surrender of Nazi forces. Canada and other Allied nations honour the date with commemoration ceremonies held on both sides of the Atlantic. This year marked the 70th anniversary of VE Day and an especially moving ceremony took place in the Netherlands at the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery

Photo from www.thankyoucanada.nl

Canadian soldiers played a huge role in many of the conflicts, and are especially remembered for their contribution in assisting the Dutch. The First Canadian Army fought a grueling nine-month campaign to liberate the Netherlands, and to provide food and other relief to its citizens.

This contribution and the more than 7600 Canadians who died during the Dutch Liberation, have never been forgotten. To this day Canada enjoys a very special relationship with the Dutch, who continually acknowledge and thank Canada for it's assistance on both sides of the Atlantic.

The grateful Dutch have sent thousands of tulips to Ottawa to honour the sacrifices of the Canadian forces. The Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa highlights this contribution, with thousands of international tourists enjoying the beautiful tulips that bloom every spring in the capital as a result.

VE Day 2015 was celebrated in Canada with a ceremony at the National War Memorial, followed by a Veteran's luncheon at the main tent of the Tulip Festival. The Tulip Festival event was attended by dignitaries including Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.

This year, Bloomex was proud to provide the tulips and special "Thank You" cards for the Canadian veterans in attendance.

Other Canadian soldiers also joined in at the Tulip Festival site as part of a World War II reenactment that included vintage vehicles from the era. Evening fireworks capped off the event.

Bloomex was very proud to be part of the opening day of the Canadian Tulip Festival and to support our amazing veterans young and old for the 70th anniversary of VE Day. It was an honour to meet some of the men and women who made such noble sacrifices on behalf of Canada in this conflict.